Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Weird Hyperlink Behavior.

Weird Hyperlink Behavior

Has this ever happened to you? You go to insert a hyperlink in your document (either by inserting it or copying it from another location) and the URL for the hyperlink appears with brackets and the word "hypertext" in front of it. What's going on?

The solution is quite simple, if you understand how Word handles hyperlinks behind-the-scenes. Hyperlinks are managed through the use of field codes. Chances are good that this weird behavior is an indication that you are seeing the field code for the hyperlink, instead of the result of that field code (just the link itself).

Try this the next time you see the weird hyperlink: just move the insertion point somewhere between the two brackets and press Shift+F9. The field code for the hyperlink should disappear, replaced with the actual text you have associated with the link. The Shift+F9 shortcut controls the one field code under the insertion point. If you want to display the results of all field codes in your document, instead of viewing the codes themselves, press Alt+F9. You can also follow these steps:

Clear or select the Field Codes check box, depending on whether you want to see the codes (selected) or their results (cleared).

Click on OK.

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This tip (46) applies to Microsoft Word 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Weird Hyperlink Behavior.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

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What is 3 + 3?

2017-09-16 10:59:39

Herman

Thank you, problem solved.

Herman

2016-08-08 13:12:57

Mary

This is a great tip. Thanks!!

2015-10-21 09:00:22

Mr Taoussi

Hi guys,

I have the same Weird Hyperlink Behavior but in Microsoft Outlook.

Could you please help.Many thanks

2015-09-10 03:40:29

Rajkumar

Awesome it worked. I was struggling to get this sorted since long time and even our IT dept couldn't crack this.

Thanks a lot :)

2015-02-24 13:23:59

Pat

Worked!! Thank you!

2014-10-02 20:23:04

Susana

Thanks! smart solution....

2014-09-10 14:31:48

CAROL

Genius!

2014-02-04 17:28:05

TimR

Thankyou sooooo much. Sanity has been restored!

2014-01-21 06:34:41

Sandeep Padelkar

Awesome solution. I was struggling with this from long time and very frustrated with all links.

Thank you very much.

2014-01-09 01:18:08

Keisha-Marie

This was THEE most helpful advise I've ever come across online. The instructions were accurate and fixed the issue immediately. I was growing increasingly annoyed with it. Thank you!

2014-01-07 15:58:22

Pete

Thank you, that was it!

2013-08-27 11:04:56

JLR

This tip does not seem to work for Word for Mac 2011, version 14.3.6 which I recently installed. The hyperlink texts now show up even on old documents in addition to new ones being created. Is this a bug?